“ In vivo, the cellular microenvironment has a crucial impact on the regulation of cell behavior and functions, such as cellular differentiation, proliferation and migration. One of the challenges confronting cell biologists is to mimic this microenvironment in vitro in order to more efficiently study living cells and model diseases. To this end, we present the PRIMO device developed by ALVEOLE. This contactless and maskless UV projection system based on the LIMAP technology(1) allows to control the biochemical and mechanical properties of in vitro microenvironments. We will first show that PRIMO is a suitable tool to print biomolecules on substrates (including glass, plastic, soft/stiff substrates, textured surfaces, etc.) with an exquisite control over protein densities (micropatterning). Then, we will also present how the projected UV light can be used in order to structure photosensitive resists (such as SU8) and create molds onto which elastomeric solutions can be polymerized (microfabrication).

Finally, one of our users will share his research conducted with PRIMO. He used this technology in order to structure and functionalize hydrogels (microstructuration combined with micropatterning) paving the way for 3D cell culture onto controlled, reproducible soft substrates(2). ”

As an introduction to this talk, Aurélien Pasturel presents a synthesis of his research work in the scientific video below. This work is preprint in BioRxiv: ” A generic widefield topographical and chemical photopatterning method for hydrogels. ” A. Pasturel et al., BioRxiv, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/370882